The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias is a renowned print created by the master artist and printmaker Rembrandt van Rijn in 1641. Executed using the challenging combined techniques of etching and drypoint, this work exemplifies the innovative approach to light and shadow that characterized the Dutch period between 1601 to 1650. Rijn was highly active in the field of printmaking during this era, often treating his copper plates with the same dramatic intensity he brought to his canvases.
The subject is drawn directly from the apocryphal Book of Tobit, depicting the miraculous climax of the story. The scene captures the moment the Archangel Raphael, having guided Tobias, reveals his true identity and ascends heavenward, leaving the blind Tobit, his wife Sarah, and Tobias astonished and thrown backward by the force of the divine revelation. Rijn captures the abruptness of this dramatic departure through dynamic composition, emphasizing the awe and shock registered by the human figures.
The specific choice of etching allowed Rijn to achieve intricate, delicate details in the figures and surrounding domestic architecture, creating textural richness. Simultaneously, the strategic application of drypoint contributed rich, deep blacks and velvety shadow textures derived from the burr. These textures amplify the contrast between the dark interior of the house and the blinding celestial light that engulfs the angel as he departs.
This exceptional example of The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias is recognized as a peak achievement among Rijn's narrative prints. The composition highlights the artist's mastery of emotional complexity within a tightly framed scene, making it one of the pivotal prints defining the Dutch Golden Age. Held today in the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art, this work offers scholars and enthusiasts crucial insight into the technical versatility and profound religious narratives that characterized Rijn's output in the 1640s. Many of Rijn’s powerful prints are now considered part of the public domain, ensuring widespread access to the legacy of this influential Dutch master.
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